# 2012 NAB Cup

The 2012 NAB Cup was the Australian Football League (AFL) pre-season competition played before the 2012 home-and-away season. The games were played between 17 February and 18 March 2012.
The competition format was changed for the second consecutive season, although the format was similar to that used in the previous year. As part of this year's competition, the NAB Regional Challenge was dissolved, with live matches to be staged at both regular AFL venues and select regional centres.
The format for the 2012 NAB Cup was as follows:
* Weeks 1 and 2: (Round 1 is split over weeks 1 and 2) The eighteen teams were split into six pools of three teams each. The three teams in each pool played each other in games of two 20-minute halves, with all three games being played over a three-hour period at the one venue.
* Weeks 3 and 4: (Round 2 and 3) The eighteen teams played a full length match each week in either metropolitan or regional areas.
* Week 5: (Round 4) The two best ranked teams played in the NAB Cup Grand Final. The other sixteen teams will play a full length practice match in either metropolitan or regional areas.

## Games

The fixtures were announced by the AFL on 26 October 2011, while the playing order of first-round games were announced by the AFL on 23 January 2012.

### Round 1

| | Pool 1 | Pool 1 | Pool 1 | | |
| Friday, 17 February (6:45 pm) | Richmond 0.6.5 (41) | def. by | North Melbourne 0.7.2 (44) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 28,228) | Report |
| Friday, 17 February (7:50 pm) | North Melbourne 0.4.4 (28) | def. by | Hawthorn 1.6.8 (53) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 28,228) | Report |
| Friday, 17 February (8:55 pm) | Hawthorn 0.5.7 (37) | def. by | Richmond 0.6.4 (40) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 28,228) | Report |
| | Pool 2 | Pool 2 | Pool 2 | | |
| Saturday, 18 February (7:15 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 1.3.3 (30) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 0.5.5 (35) | Blacktown Olympic Park (crowd: 7,086) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 February (8:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs 0.3.1 (19) | def. by | Collingwood 0.4.2 (26) | Blacktown Olympic Park (crowd: 7,086) | Report |
| Saturday, 18 February (9:25 pm) | Collingwood 0.5.5 (35) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 0.5.2 (32) | Blacktown Olympic Park (crowd: 7,086) | Report |
| | Pool 3 | Pool 3 | Pool 3 | | |
| Sunday, 19 February (4:45 pm) | West Coast 0.9.3 (57) | def. | Essendon 0.5.6 (36) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 27,581) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 February (5:50 pm) | Essendon 0.3.2 (20) | def. by | Fremantle 1.7.5 (56) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 27,581) | Report |
| Sunday, 19 February (6:55 pm) | Fremantle 0.1.4 (10) | def. by | West Coast 0.4.6 (30) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 27,581) | Report |
| | Pool 4 | Pool 4 | Pool 4 | | |
| Friday, 24 February (6:40 pm) | St Kilda 0.4.5 (29) | def. by | Sydney 0.9.5 (59) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 18,880) | Report |
| Friday, 24 February (7:45 pm) | Sydney 0.2.1 (13) | def. by | Geelong 0.4.5 (29) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 18,880) | Report |
| Friday, 24 February (8:50 pm) | St Kilda 1.3.9 (36) | def. | Geelong 1.0.6 (15) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 18,880) | Report |
| | Pool 5 | Pool 5 | Pool 5 | | |
| Saturday, 25 February (6:10 pm) | Gold Coast 0.4.2 (26) | def. | Melbourne 0.3.5 (23) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 5,150) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 February (7:15 pm) | Melbourne 0.2.1 (13) | def. | Brisbane Lions 0.1.4 (10) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 5,150) | Report |
| Saturday, 25 February (8:20 pm) | Brisbane Lions 0.2.6 (18) | def. | Gold Coast 0.2.4 (16) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 5,150) | Report |
| | Pool 6 | Pool 6 | Pool 6 | | |
| Sunday, 26 February (2:40 pm) | Port Adelaide 0.6.10 (46) | def. | Carlton 1.5.1 (40) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 12,532) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 February (3:45 pm) | Carlton 0.5.4 (34) | def. by | Adelaide 1.5.4 (43) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 12,532) | Report |
| Sunday, 26 February (4:50 pm) | Adelaide 0.2.6 (18) | def. | Port Adelaide 0.2.5 (17) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 12,532) | Report |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Friday, 2 March (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast 1.8.12 (69) | def. by | Geelong 1.16.13 (118) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 5,381) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 March (3:40 pm) | Hawthorn 2.12.18 (108) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 0.4.10 (34) | Aurora Stadium (crowd: 5,100) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 March (cancelled) | Essendon | v | St Kilda | Wangaratta Showgrounds | Report |
| Saturday, 3 March (7:00 pm) | Sydney 2.9.10 (82) | def. | North Melbourne 0.9.11 (65) | Bruce Purser Reserve, Sydney (crowd: 2,024) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 March (4:10 pm) | West Coast 1.12.11 (92) | def. | Port Adelaide 1.12.6 (87) | Bendigo Bank Stadium, Mandurah (crowd: 9,000) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 March (7:40 pm) | Collingwood 1.9.7 (70) | def. by | Melbourne 0.11.13 (79) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 12,954) | Report |
| Saturday, 3 March (7:10 pm) | Adelaide 0.14.9 (93) | def. | Brisbane Lions 1.5.3 (42) | Traeger Park, Alice Springs (crowd: 4,756) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 March (5:40 pm) | Western Bulldogs 0.11.8 (74) | def. | Carlton 0.11.4 (70) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 10,500) | Report |
| Sunday, 4 March (5:10 pm) | Fremantle 1.14.12 (105) | def. | Richmond 0.10.7 (67) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 7,294) | Report |
| The match between Essendon and St Kilda was cancelled because heavy rain in northern Victoria prevented the flights chartered by the Essendon Football Club from landing in or near Wangaratta. The decision by Essendon to fly, in the face of adverse weather forecasts well out from the date of the game, was criticised by many, including Victorian Minister for Sport Hugh Delahunty. After initially treating the result as a draw, the AFL awarded the full four points to St Kilda, who had travelled to Wangaratta by bus the previous day. The cancellation was a disappointment for the people of Wangaratta; the match, which had been sold out in advance, was a major event in the area; St Kilda played an intraclub match for the crowd that stayed, and the city received financial compensation from the league for the cancellation. ||||||

### Round 3

| | Round 3 | Round 3 | Round 3 | | |
| Friday, 9 March (6:10 pm) | Essendon 1.14.12 (105) | def. | Sydney 1.14.10 (103) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 12,000) | Report |
| Friday, 9 March (8:10 pm) | Adelaide 1.20.9 (138) | def. | Collingwood 1.7.10 (61) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 12,062) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 March (3:10 pm) | Geelong 0.6.13 (49) | def. by | Richmond 1.14.15 (108) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 9,393) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 March (3:40 pm) | Port Adelaide 1.11.11 (86) | def. | Fremantle 2.5.18 (66) | Encounter Bay Oval, Victor Harbor (crowd: 5,000) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 March (3:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions 0.15.14 (104) | def. | Carlton 0.6.4 (40) | Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex (crowd: 5,147) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 March (5:30 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 0.11.10 (76) | def. | Gold Coast 1.8.6 (63) | Lavington Sports Ground, Albury (crowd: 6,740) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 March (5:40 pm) | Melbourne 0.6.8 (44) | def. by | Hawthorn 1.17.12 (123) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 10,611) | Report |
| Saturday, 10 March (5:10 pm) | West Coast 1.10.16 (85) | def. | St Kilda 0.7.10 (52) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 9,411) | Report |
| Sunday, 11 March (3:40 pm) | North Melbourne 1.11.18 (93) | def. | Western Bulldogs 0.9.16 (70) | Eureka Stadium, Ballarat (crowd: 8,000) | Report |
| Greater Western Sydney won its first competitive AFL match. ||||||

### Grand Final

| | 2012 NAB Cup Grand Final | 2012 NAB Cup Grand Final | 2012 NAB Cup Grand Final | | |
| Saturday, 17 March (7:10 pm) | Adelaide | def. | West Coast | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 27,376) | Report |
| | 0.2.2 (14) 1.3.6 (33) 2.6.13 (67) 2.10.17 (95) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.0.2 (20) 2.1.6 (30) 2.4.7 (49) 2.5.13 (61) | Umpires: McBurney, McInerney, Mollison, Dalgleish Michael Tuck Medal: Bernie Vince Television broadcast: Seven Network / Fox Footy | Umpires: McBurney, McInerney, Mollison, Dalgleish Michael Tuck Medal: Bernie Vince Television broadcast: Seven Network / Fox Footy |
| Jaensch, Walker | Jaensch, Walker | Super Goals | Hill, Nicoski | Hill, Nicoski |
| Walker 2, Callinan, Jacobs, Mackay, Petrenko, Porplyzia, Thompson, Tippett, Vince | Walker 2, Callinan, Jacobs, Mackay, Petrenko, Porplyzia, Thompson, Tippett, Vince | Goals | Darling, Hams, Hill, Priddis, Weedon | Darling, Hams, Hill, Priddis, Weedon |
| Vince, Thompson, Dangerfield, Walker, Reilly, Mackay | Vince, Thompson, Dangerfield, Walker, Reilly, Mackay | Best | Priddis, S.Selwood, Butler, Hill, Waters | Priddis, S.Selwood, Butler, Hill, Waters |
| Nil | Nil | Injuries | Nicoski (hamstring) | Nicoski (hamstring) |

## NAB Challenge

| | NAB Challenge | NAB Challenge | NAB Challenge | | |
| Friday, 16 March (4:00 pm) | Collingwood 10.20 (80) | def. | St Kilda 6.11 (47) | Visy Park (crowd: 3,000) | Report |
| Friday, 16 March (7:10 pm) | Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) | def. | Melbourne 9.10 (64) | AAMI Stadium (crowd: 2,500) | Report |
| Friday, 16 March (6:00 pm) | Fremantle 12.11 (83) | def. by | Hawthorn 13.8 (86) | Patersons Stadium (crowd: 5,316) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 March (12:30 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 10.6 (66) | def. by | Richmond 20.20 (140) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 4,222) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 March (1:00 pm) | Sydney 14.19 (103) | def. | Gold Coast 13.6 (84) | Blacktown Olympic Park (crowd: 741) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 March (3:00 pm) | Geelong 11.18 (84) | def. | Western Bulldogs 11.9 (75) | Simonds Stadium (crowd: 3,800) | Report |
| Saturday, 17 March (3:30 pm) | Essendon 16.16 (112) | def. | Brisbane Lions 8.8 (56) | Visy Park (crowd: 3,500) | Report |
| Sunday, 18 March (1:00 pm) | Carlton 15.10 (100) | def. by | North Melbourne 18.8 (116) | Visy Park (crowd: 9,783) | Report |
| These matches, played on the same weekend as the Grand Final, were not counted towards the NAB Cup ladder. ||||||

## Ladder

2012 NAB Cup Ladder :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
| 1 | Adelaide | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 292 | 154 | 189.6 | 16 | Grand Final |
| 2 | West Coast | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 264 | 185 | 142.7 | 16 | Grand Final |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 321 | 146 | 219.9 | 12 | |
| 4 | Fremantle | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 237 | 203 | 116.7 | 8 | |
| 5 | Sydney | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 257 | 228 | 112.7 | 8 | |
| 6 | Port Adelaide | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 236 | 216 | 109.3 | 8 | |
| 7 | Richmond | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 256 | 235 | 108.9 | 8 | |
| 8 | Brisbane Lions | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 174 | 162 | 107.4 | 8 | |
| 9 | North Melbourne | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 230 | 246 | 93.5 | 8 | |
| 10 | Geelong | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 211 | 226 | 93.4 | 8 | |
| 11 | Western Bulldogs | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 198 | 219 | 90.4 | 8 | |
| 12 | St Kilda | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 118 | 159 | 74.2 | 8 | |
| 13 | Collingwood | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 192 | 268 | 71.6 | 8 | |
| 14 | Melbourne | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 159 | 229 | 69.4 | 8 | |
| 15 | Essendon | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 161 | 217 | 74.2 | 4 | |
| 16 | Gold Coast | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 174 | 235 | 74.0 | 4 | |
| 17 | Greater Western Sydney | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 172 | 241 | 71.4 | 4 | |
| 18 | Carlton | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 184 | 267 | 68.9 | 0 | |